Equine Nutrition Flashcards
List all 7 Macro Minerals
Calcium
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Sodium
Chloride
Potassium
Sulphur
List all 7 Micro Minerals
Iron
Zinc
Copper
Selenium
Manganese
Iodine
Cobalt
What are the fat-soluble vitamins?
A, D, E, K
What are the water-soluble vitamins?
C and B-complex
What vitamins are not produced by the body?
A and E
What body part produces vitamin D?
The skin
What body part produces vitamin K?
The cecum and colon (however horses still need to eat forages in order to get enough vitamin K in their diet)
What body part produces vitamin C
The liver
What is the capacity of the horse stomach
2-4 gallons
What are the 5 main nutrients a horse needs ?
Water
Proteins
Energy
Vitamins
Minerals
What percentage of a horse’s diet does forage make up?
At least 50%
What is the main form of forage in a horse’s diet?
Hay
What percent of water is in a horses body?
70%
What does a high leaf-to-stem ratio in hay indicate?
Higher digestibility and nutrient content
What does the presence of few seed heads or blooms in hay indicate?
Younger, early maturity plant
What should good quality hay smell like?
Fresh cut smell
What is a sign of poor quality hay regarding cleanliness?
Presence of dirt, mold, weeds, or trash
What color indicates good quality hay?
Bright green
True or False: Good quality hay should have a musty smell.
False
Fill in the blank: The nutritional value of hay is compromised with increased exposure to _______.
heat, sunlight and rain
List the six signs of good quality horse hay.
- High leaf-to-stem ratio
- Small diameter stems
- Few seed heads or blooms
- Fresh smell and appearance
- Cleanliness
- Hay color
Wh
What is Rye grass?
A cereal grain hay, it’s usually low in protein
What is Clover hay?
A legume with adequate protein and energy levels for adult horse but may be to rich for young horses
What is the safest and most popular type of grain fed to horses.
Oats
What makes oats a safe feed?
They have a fiber content of 13%
What are the main differences between barley and oats?
Barley is lower in fiber
Barley is classified as a heavy feed
Barley kernel is harder than oat kernels
What is the most energy dense grain?
Corn (has 3x the amount of energy of oats)
What is the purpose of the horses siliva
Lubricates food and acts as a natural buffer against stomach acid
